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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Eagle Rare 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | 13 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +29 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 ~$185 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak without hunting for it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).